blindwatchmaker

A friend told me about a growing "area of scientific research" (with associated products patented and marketed) to do with "glyconutrients".

The basis of what she said is that there are 8 sugars whos purpose is more than simply storing energy for the body, that in fact have an important role to play in our ability to fight diseases such as cancer and viruses.

Apparently we no longer get adequate levels of these sugars through our diets (probably thanks to man's evil meddling in the world lol).

The only solution is to take very expensive products developed by a company called Mannatech (Offering a one-of-a-kind wellness solution ) who hold the patents on the Glyconutrients that they sell.

This all smacks of profit driven psuedoscience to me and I was wondering if anyone knows any more about this..

These people are making some pretty extraordinary claims about the positive health effects of regular intake of glyconutrients and I would love to know if the "research" behind the claims has been reported in peer reviewed journals and subjected to the appropriate scrutiny.

BW

Philosoft

Though the 8-essential-sugar thing is correct, I am pretty sure the body can synthesize whatever polysaccharides it requires.

theyeti

Without more details, I don't know eaxctly what these people are referring to (that sends up a red flag right there). What they're probably referring to are the sugar aducts on glycoproteins or glycolipids. As Philosoft said, your body makes these on its own so you don't need to get them through diet.

I think it's an extremely safe bet that these people are selling bullshit.

theyeti

I. C. Unicorns

Mannatech? Sniff sniff, something smells fishy.

Coragyps

My wife has a coworker who is heavily into this Mannatech thing, and it sure has all the earmarks of a pseudoscience pyramid scheme. From one forwarded email:
I haven't paid enough attention to it all to even see which eight sugars they claim are essential, but I, too, am pretty sure we humans can make 'em if we can use 'em.

Shinobi

Mannatech is a pyramid scheme. I went to a party and some guy tried to
sell me mannatech suppliments once.

(or maybe that was ecstacy

BioBeing

It is definitely a pyramid scheme. Someone is making over 1.5 billion dollars a year off this stuff, but it aint the guys on the base of the pyramid, you can be sure of that.

This write up seems pretty well written, and sums about what I would have to say on the subject. Basically, glycobiology is an advancing and important area of research, but this ain't glycobiology. The wonderful thing about trademarked terms and an independent sales force who are not regulated in any way is that you can say pretty much anything you want and get away with it.

PetDr

Can you say Noni Juice?

blindwatchmaker

Thankyou all for your replies.

I have managed to research this one a little since posting and indeed it is a HUGE scam. As bullshit based pyramid schemes go, this one is a monster.

What makes the whole thing all the more cynical is that there is actually good research being done in the field of glycobiology, but none of the assumptions on which Mannatech market their product (ie 1. We cannot adequately synthesize the "other" 6 sugars, 2. We need increased levels of these for better immune efficiency and 3. Our food is less nutritious than it "used to be") have actually been established.

Now, here's the part that really makes me pull my hair out..

I put all this to my friend, but said that she's been feeling so unwell, that she'll try anything. She asked me what my opinion would be if she takes the stuff ($1500 worth that she's committed to) and gets better. She said "It may not have been proved, but they havent disproved it either..."

:banghead:

I said that some people believe that cutting off a chunk of your hair and burying it in the garden with some gooseberries would make you feel better , and perhaps that was worth trying too as nobody has ever disproved the method.

Unfortunately the irony was completely lost on her.

GGGGGGGGGRRRRRRR!